Best available players at positions of need for the Vikings

Mock drafts are almost always wrong, but lo and behold, most of them got the Vikings’ first-round pick correct by predicting they’d take North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury on Thursday. 

Attention now turns to what the Vikings will do in the second and third rounds Friday night. They pick 50th overall in the second round and in the third round Minnesota owns the 81st overall selection. 

Minnesota could still add depth and maybe even find a starter on the offensive line, and they also could address needs at defensive tackle with Sheldon Richardson gone; safety to replace Andrew Sendejo (Anthony Harris currently penciled in for that spot); wide receiver since the No. 3 on the depth chart remains Laquon Treadwell; and it wouldn’t be a shock if they go the route of a cornerback or tight end. 

So who are the best remaining offensive linemen? According to NFL.com, these are the five best remaining, and many of them were highly touted and fell out of the first round. 

1. Jawaan Taylor, T, Florida – 13th overall by NFL.com
2. Cody Ford, T, Oklahoma – 23rd overall by NFL.com
3. Connor McGovern, OL, Penn State – 31st overall by NFL.com
4. Dalton Risner, OL, Kansas State – 42nd overall by NFL.com
5. Greg Little, T, Mississippi – 66th overall by NFL.com

In the same light, these are the five best remaining defensive linemen. 

1. Jaylon Ferguson, Edge, Louisiana Tech – 41st overall by NFL.com
2. Zach Allen, DE, Boston College – 43rd overall by NFL.com
3. Dre’Mont Jones, DT, Ohio State – 59th overall by NFL.com
4. Anthony Nelson, DE, Iowa – 64th overall by NFL.com
5. Chase Winovich, Edge, Michigan – 65th overall by NFL.com

And now, the five best remaining safeties and cornerbacks. 

1. Greedy Williams, CB, LSU – 27th overall by NFL.com
2. Byron Murphy, CB, Washington – 30th overall by NFL.com
3. Rock Ya-Sin, CB, Temple – 38th overall by NFL.com
4. Nasir Adderly, S, Delaware – 49th overall by NFL.com
5. Juan Thornill, S, Virginia – 53rd overall by NFL.com

Do note that Minneapolis native Amani Hooker, a safety from Iowa, is currently picked to go to the Vikings in the third round by CBS Sports’ R.J. White. 

Here are the five best remaining tight ends and wide receivers. 

1. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Mississippi – 13th overall by NFL.com
2. Parris Campbell, WR, Ohio State – 29th overall by NFL.com
3. A.J. Brown, WR, Mississippi – 33rd overall by NFL.com
4. Irv Smith Jr., TE, Alabama – 35th overall by NFL.com
5. Deebo Samuel, WR, South Carolina – 44th overall by NFL.com